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an introduction to Empathy
- 1. © 2006 Cisco Systems, Inc. All rights reserved. Cisco ConfidentialPresentation_ID 1
Empathy
Not sexy but worth a
mention?
- 2. © 2006 Cisco Systems, Inc. All rights reserved. Cisco ConfidentialPresentation_ID 2
Why on Earth talk about Empathy ?
Client
Therapeutic
relationship
Therapist
positive
outcome
- 3. © 2006 Cisco Systems, Inc. All rights reserved. Cisco ConfidentialPresentation_ID 3
What is it?
‘The power of identifying oneself mentally with
[and so fully comprehending] a person or
object of contemplation’
Oxford English Dictionary
- 4. © 2006 Cisco Systems, Inc. All rights reserved. Cisco ConfidentialPresentation_ID 4
Example ONE: Sympathy
“I feel your pain”
Example TWO: Empathy
“I feel your pain and also your strong love for this person”
What is isn’t?
- 5. © 2006 Cisco Systems, Inc. All rights reserved. Cisco ConfidentialPresentation_ID 5
Our Place In The Therapeutic Alliance
We’re a team!
Client
Positive outcome
Working together towards that positive outcome
20:20 Vision
The member of the team who knows themselves best
Understanding / acceptance / resolution – 20:20 vision
The best it could be – NOT an ending or fix?
- 6. © 2006 Cisco Systems, Inc. All rights reserved. Cisco ConfidentialPresentation_ID 6
Not Everyone Likes it…..
Fritz Perls for one: -
But Fritz had ‘issues’
“There can be no true contact in empathy.
At its worst it is confluence”
Little Fritz
- 7. © 2006 Cisco Systems, Inc. All rights reserved. Cisco ConfidentialPresentation_ID 7
The understanding of / between TWO people
The Therapist must Understand the client is several ways: -
- From the client’s own perspective
- In and through the context of their life
- Understand the dissonance between the client’s view and reality
We need to consider their age, sex, culture, family circumstances etc.
Not Just a Basic Skill?
- 8. © 2006 Cisco Systems, Inc. All rights reserved. Cisco ConfidentialPresentation_ID 8
By applying some skills we all have
- Active Listening [letting them tell their story]
- Reflecting back thoughts and feelings
- Summarising what they have said in terms of what we understand
- Clarifying any ‘open’ issues
Good News: It Can Be Honed ….
- 9. © 2006 Cisco Systems, Inc. All rights reserved. Cisco ConfidentialPresentation_ID 9
Thank-You
Mark Stancombe
Integrative Psychotherapist
MBACP (Accred)
mstancombe@move-forward.org
- 10. © 2006 Cisco Systems, Inc. All rights reserved. Cisco ConfidentialPresentation_ID 9
Thank-You
Mark Stancombe
Integrative Psychotherapist
MBACP (Accred)
mstancombe@move-forward.org